Game 40 thoughts: Spurs vs Blazers

[AFBlue]

The Blazers are a really tough matchup for the Spurs. It'll be interesting to watch (in person) their game in March, assuming Splitter and Green are healthy. Spurs need extra defenders against that deep scoring backcourt and LMA. The only thing that concerns me after seeing this contest is the trouble Duncan had with Lopez on both ends.

[sammy]

The Blazers are a really tough matchup for the Spurs. It'll be interesting to watch (in person) their game in March, assuming Splitter and Green are healthy. Spurs need extra defenders against that deep scoring backcourt and LMA. The only thing that concerns me after seeing this contest is the trouble Duncan had with Lopez on both ends.

I was concerned as well! Why wasn't Baynes playing! At least he's another big that could defend Aldridge? Doesn't make sense why we go small ball with Diaw defending Aldridge as he just shoots over him? I was very disappointed that Manu stayed on the bench too long since he had the hot hand and we lost the lead once he was on the bench! Bad coaching from Boylen!

[AFBlue]

I was concerned as well! Why wasn't Baynes playing! At least he's another big that could defend Aldridge? Doesn't make sense why we go small ball with Diaw defending Aldridge as he just shoots over him? I was very disappointed that Manu stayed on the bench too long since he had the hot hand and we lost the lead once he was on the bench! Bad coaching from Boylen!

I was also surprised we didn't see Joseph against their small ball backcourt sets. With Patty's stroke off, the Spurs could've used CoJo's D.

[Chomag]

Championship teams usually dont allow themselves to get punked at home and how many times has it been this season now? I hope Spurs wake up soon and start playing up to their potential. I know alot here are satisfied because of the Spurs record but that seems moot to me with how many teams there are to run up wins on this year.

I think the most glaring issue right now is with KL. Pop and the team need to find a way to get this kid more involved. His development or lack of has been abysmal. He is actually averaging less minutes then he did last year.

[TheGoldStandard]

I find it very interesting the Spurs have a better road record than at home.

[boutons_deux]

I find it very interesting the Spurs have a better road record than at home.

interesting?
home losses to good teams,

road wins to ty teams.

very depressing

[kaji157]

Clearlly our only effective weapon tonight was Manu, and we used him only 25 minutes. If we wanted to win the rotations would have been different.

[DMC]

Clearlly our only effective weapon tonight was Manu, and we used him only 25 minutes. If we wanted to win the rotations would have been different.

On offense.

Game is played at both ends. Spurs scored well enough to win based on their Points Allowed average, but they didn't defend well enough. Splitter being out is part of the reason, but not all of it.

[Budkin]

So which good teams have we lost to now at home? Rockets(x2), Thunder, and Blazers? Losing another home game to the Thunder in a couple days tbh?

[TXstbobcat]

Yes, on to game 41 so we can overrate a win against the Bucks and then downplay a loss to OKC.

rinse and repeat for the rest of the regular season.

[Cry Havoc]

I've never seen a team that holds the best record in perhaps the most stacked conference of all time get such hate.

It's just bizarre.

[RD2191]

I've never seen a team that holds the best record in perhaps the most stacked conference of all time get such hate.

It's just bizarre.

So if we lose to OKC you won't be worried? I mean if we can't beat these teams in the reg season at home then how are we going to do it in the playoffs? Yes, we are missing Green and Splitter but we were still losing to top playoff teams with them. OKC went into Houston down Westbrook and still won the game. We can't even beat Houston at home.

[look_at_g_shred]

Spurstalk :
Spurs win= meaningless regular season game don't get too excited
Spurs lose = Spurs are done as contenders #tankforjabai

[dbestpro]

I wonder how the game would have played out had we gone over the screen instead of under the screen. Portland may have still hit their shots, but they would have been 2s instead of 3s. Probably waiting for a playoff adjustment.

[Raven]

guys, it's all about defence, we start playing real defenders and we beat anybody.

[Proxy]

missing two starters who contribute greatly on the defensive side of the ball.

[Cry Havoc]

So if we lose to OKC you won't be worried? I mean if we can't beat these teams in the reg season at home then how are we going to do it in the playoffs? Yes, we are missing Green and Splitter but we were still losing to top playoff teams with them. OKC went into Houston down Westbrook and still won the game. We can't even beat Houston at home.

There have been instances in le years where we have gone 0-3 to good teams throughout the season and then swept or 4-1ed them in the playoffs.

Of course it's not a good feeling to lose to them in the regular season, but it's hardly an indicator of post-season success.

We still have a better record, which means that Portland is going out and getting done to them what they did to us by another team. That doesn't mean that Portland would get swept by, say, New Orleans, it just means they went out and had a bad night.

Keep in mind, between Duncan, Manu, and Parker, our guys have twenty five HUNDRED games of experience. They aren't going to go out looking to "prove" anything in January against a young team. They've already proven it season after season. They know how to stay calm, play poised ball, and save their 100% efforts for the games that are going to decide who moves into the next round. Portland, meanwhile, feels like they are the new team and that every game really does mean something. They're young, they play on their instincts and emotion, and sometimes that leads to games like last night. It's GREAT when you have a guy like Matthews who shoots 6-7, but when they need him in the playoffs and keep kicking it out to find a defender there and subsequently a 2-8 performance, they're going to throw their hands up in frustration and wonder "what the happened" because "hey these guys were easy back in January when they weren't closing out on our shooters". That's why they go out and beat us but drop a game to the ing 76ers, who have no business being on the same court as Portland this year.

They also recently lost to the Kings. Does that mean that Portland fans should be jumping ship because one of the worst teams in the league beat them?

These are the swings of being a fan. You have to temper your emotion and your kneejerk reaction to losses. They suck, they feel like , and it feels like the team can't do anything right, but it's just one night. It's 1/82nd of the season. That's 1.2% of the games that don't even count for anything come April and May. I would much rather lose every game to Portland this year and have home court advantage than sweep them and have to walk into the Moda Center to start the 2nd round of the playoffs knowing you have to take one of the first two games or be going home down 0-2.

[RD2191]

There have been instances in le years where we have gone 0-3 to good teams throughout the season and then swept or 4-1ed them in the playoffs.

Of course it's not a good feeling to lose to them in the regular season, but it's hardly an indicator of post-season success.

We still have a better record, which means that Portland is going out and getting done to them what they did to us by another team. That doesn't mean that Portland would get swept by, say, New Orleans, it just means they went out and had a bad night.

Keep in mind, between Duncan, Manu, and Parker, our guys have twenty five HUNDRED games of experience. They aren't going to go out looking to "prove" anything in January against a young team. They've already proven it season after season. They know how to stay calm, play poised ball, and save their 100% efforts for the games that are going to decide who moves into the next round. Portland, meanwhile, feels like they are the new team and that every game really does mean something. They're young, they play on their instincts and emotion, and sometimes that leads to games like last night. It's GREAT when you have a guy like Matthews who shoots 6-7, but when they need him in the playoffs and keep kicking it out to find a defender there and subsequently a 2-8 performance, they're going to throw their hands up in frustration and wonder "what the happened" because "hey these guys were easy back in January when they weren't closing out on our shooters". That's why they go out and beat us but drop a game to the ing 76ers, who have no business being on the same court as Portland this year.

They also recently lost to the Kings. Does that mean that Portland fans should be jumping ship because one of the worst teams in the league beat them?

These are the swings of being a fan. You have to temper your emotion and your kneejerk reaction to losses. They suck, they feel like , and it feels like the team can't do anything right, but it's just one night. It's 1/82nd of the season. That's 1.2% of the games that don't even count for anything come April and May. I would much rather lose every game to Portland this year and have home court advantage than sweep them and have to walk into the Moda Center to start the 2nd round of the playoffs knowing you have to take one of the first two games or be going home down 0-2.

I get emotional, tbh. But you make some good points. I wish I was as level headed and calm as you.

[spurs10]

There have been instances in le years where we have gone 0-3 to good teams throughout the season and then swept or 4-1ed them in the playoffs.

Of course it's not a good feeling to lose to them in the regular season, but it's hardly an indicator of post-season success.

We still have a better record, which means that Portland is going out and getting done to them what they did to us by another team. That doesn't mean that Portland would get swept by, say, New Orleans, it just means they went out and had a bad night.

Keep in mind, between Duncan, Manu, and Parker, our guys have twenty five HUNDRED games of experience. They aren't going to go out looking to "prove" anything in January against a young team. They've already proven it season after season. They know how to stay calm, play poised ball, and save their 100% efforts for the games that are going to decide who moves into the next round. Portland, meanwhile, feels like they are the new team and that every game really does mean something. They're young, they play on their instincts and emotion, and sometimes that leads to games like last night. It's GREAT when you have a guy like Matthews who shoots 6-7, but when they need him in the playoffs and keep kicking it out to find a defender there and subsequently a 2-8 performance, they're going to throw their hands up in frustration and wonder "what the happened" because "hey these guys were easy back in January when they weren't closing out on our shooters". That's why they go out and beat us but drop a game to the ing 76ers, who have no business being on the same court as Portland this year.

They also recently lost to the Kings. Does that mean that Portland fans should be jumping ship because one of the worst teams in the league beat them?

These are the swings of being a fan. You have to temper your emotion and your kneejerk reaction to losses. They suck, they feel like , and it feels like the team can't do anything right, but it's just one night. It's 1/82nd of the season. That's 1.2% of the games that don't even count for anything come April and May. I would much rather lose every game to Portland this year and have home court advantage than sweep them and have to walk into the Moda Center to start the 2nd round of the playoffs knowing you have to take one of the first two games or be going home down 0-2.

Great read! Thanks!

[spurs10]

I get emotional, tbh. But you make some good points. I wish I was as level headed and calm as you.

It's hard to not be emotional when you are a big fan. "Level headed" is not a term I would have used for myself at the game last night!

[SpurYank]

Someone described Manu's performance as "God like." Many described the Spurs overall performance as the opposite of this. Summary (for the traditional negative Spurs fans): Let's get rid of this bunch and draft "God like performers." This is certainly going to satisfy the perfectionists.

Me? I enjoyed the out of this game and thought our Spurs, Pop, all, gave it all they had for TONIGHT. We lose minimally 22 to 25 games a year. I went to bed knowing why I love to watch my Spurs, from all the way up here near the Penn. border, in Maryland.

PS: Watching Manu tonight gave me confidence for the playoffs. With everyone else contributing, we will take it this year for sure.

[RD2191]

It's hard to not be emotional when you are a big fan. "Level headed" is not a term I would have used for myself at the game last night!

[TD 21]

Championship teams usually dont allow themselves to get punked at home and how many times has it been this season now?

Yeah, not this many times, especially within' a half a season.

It goes back to something I've harped on for years: How upstart teams, such as the Pacers and Trail Blazers, have far more swagger and confidence than this team. It should be the other way around, yet it's as if the Spurs constantly forget who they are. A team of their pedigree should be embarrassed by this and pissed off that these teams clearly don't think that highly of them. It's evident not just on the court, but from myriad comments over the years, from Love, to Lee, to Parsons, etc.

[polandprzem]

The worst thing of losing again to a contender team is that spurs can feel they not gonna beat top clubs this year.
They just fall and collapse time and time again. Habit that is not necessary needed when it comes to drive fo 5

[heyheymymy]

There have been instances in le years where we have gone 0-3 to good teams throughout the season and then swept or 4-1ed them in the playoffs.

Of course it's not a good feeling to lose to them in the regular season, but it's hardly an indicator of post-season success.

We still have a better record, which means that Portland is going out and getting done to them what they did to us by another team. That doesn't mean that Portland would get swept by, say, New Orleans, it just means they went out and had a bad night.

Keep in mind, between Duncan, Manu, and Parker, our guys have twenty five HUNDRED games of experience. They aren't going to go out looking to "prove" anything in January against a young team. They've already proven it season after season. They know how to stay calm, play poised ball, and save their 100% efforts for the games that are going to decide who moves into the next round. Portland, meanwhile, feels like they are the new team and that every game really does mean something. They're young, they play on their instincts and emotion, and sometimes that leads to games like last night. It's GREAT when you have a guy like Matthews who shoots 6-7, but when they need him in the playoffs and keep kicking it out to find a defender there and subsequently a 2-8 performance, they're going to throw their hands up in frustration and wonder "what the happened" because "hey these guys were easy back in January when they weren't closing out on our shooters". That's why they go out and beat us but drop a game to the ing 76ers, who have no business being on the same court as Portland this year.

They also recently lost to the Kings. Does that mean that Portland fans should be jumping ship because one of the worst teams in the league beat them?

These are the swings of being a fan. You have to temper your emotion and your kneejerk reaction to losses. They suck, they feel like , and it feels like the team can't do anything right, but it's just one night. It's 1/82nd of the season. That's 1.2% of the games that don't even count for anything come April and May. I would much rather lose every game to Portland this year and have home court advantage than sweep them and have to walk into the Moda Center to start the 2nd round of the playoffs knowing you have to take one of the first two games or be going home down 0-2.

solid take, and I didn't even know I needed to hear it. remember 07, we lost to the cavs both times we played them in the reg season and then swept them in the finals. the cavs looked like 2 diff teams.